Campus Community Reaches Out to Help Victims of Typhoon Haiyan

Students in the Kaibigang Pilipin@ student organization have joined together to help victims of the Haiyan Typhoon in the Philippines. Yesterday, Kaibigang Pilipin@ (KP) org members tabled on Library Walk to collect donations that included canned food and clothing. In addition, the students placed a donation bin in the Cross Cultural Center to collect items such as wound care materials, mosquito repellent, infant formula and blankets. UC San Diego senior Rachel Maureen C. Bajet, chair of KP, said that the organization is doing as much as it can to help the Filipino communities devastated by the super storm. “Many of us have family members in the Philippines and we want to make sure they, as well as others, are provided for in this time of crisis,” she said.

Kaibigang Pilipin@ is also holding a Typhoon Relief Benefit Dance Nov. 16 at 10 p.m. at Porter’s Pub. The organization also held a benefit show on campus Saturday night to support victims of the typhoon. More than 250 people attended the event. KP, which is a non-profit student organization designed to educate the UC San Diego and local communities about the many aspects of Filipino culture, is in discussions with other student organizations to develop larger relief efforts, Bajet said.

Other campus efforts to help victims of the Haiyan Typhoon include a donation drive by the Pan-Asian Staff Association organization. The staff organization will be collecting donated items at their 8th Annual Diversity Luncheon, Nov. 18. Suggested items for donation include gently used clothing, socks and shoes; blankets and towels; flashlights; gloves and masks; infant formula, peanut butter, instant noodles, and canned goods. For more information, contact Pan-Asian Staff Association organization Co-Chairs Annie Flager (aflager@ucsd.edu) or Nancy Magpusao (nmagpusao@ucsd.edu).

The American Red Cross is accepting donations to help victims of Typhoon Haiyan and coordinating disaster relief on the ground. You may direct donations online to The American Red Cross. Click on “Red Cross Sends Support to Philippines for Typhoon Response.”